Smokey Robinson Manager Sues for His 10%

LOS ANGELES (CN) — Smokey Robinson’s former talent manager has sued the legendary songwriter for 10 percent commission of his earnings from touring and recording since they signed a contract 2012. In a Friday lawsuit in Superior Court, Eric Podwall says he helped revive the rhythm and blues singer’s fortunes by arranging for him to record a string of duets with “Who’s Who of A-list artists,” including Elton John, Steven Tyler, John Legend, Gary Barlow, James Taylor and others. The fruits of those recordings led to the album “Smokey & Friends,” and gave Robinson his first hit record in four decades, Podwall says. “Smokey Robinson is well known to the public as the Motown legend behind such hits as ‘The Tracks of My Tears’ and ‘The Tears of a Clown.’ In private, however, Robinson sheds no tears for the person who has been responsible for his recent successes,” the lawsuit states. Podwall claims that in their 2012 contract Robinson agreed to pay him 10 percent commission on “all compensation Robinson receives for Robinson’s services rendered or created during the term of the agreement.” Before he revived the former Miracles singer’s fortunes, Robinson was “touring the same casinos and other tired venues,” Podwall says in the complaint. In addition to the deal with Verve Records for the duets, Podwall says, Robinson also failed to compensate him for securing an agreement with Global Music Rights for performance royalties. He says that Robinson tried to fire him in January this year, without notice of his “purported grievance or an opportunity to cure.” The lawsuit comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that the “poet laureate of soul” will become the next recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Bob Dylan years ago called Robinson America’s greatest songwriter. Podwall seeks compensatory and consequential damages, a ruling that his management contract is valid, an accounting and costs. He is represented by Bryan Freedman with Freedman Taitelman.